Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Vigil Held for Nursing Assistant Odhran Kelly, Tragically Taken Too Soon and So Cruelly
A heartfelt vigil was held in honor of nursing assistant Odhran Kelly, who was tragically murdered in Lurgan, Co Armagh. Friends and family gathered to remember the 23-year-old as a “loving and caring” man who was taken from them far too soon.
The murder investigation was launched on Sunday after a body was discovered in the Edward Street area of Lurgan. On Wednesday, the police formally identified the victim as Mr. Kelly. His lifeless body was found next to a burning car in Maple Court in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In a significant development, police made a fourth arrest on Wednesday evening, apprehending a 31-year-old man in connection with Mr. Kelly’s murder. Three other individuals, two women aged 36 and 43, and another 31-year-old man, were already in custody. The investigation is at an early stage, and Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly is keeping an open mind about the motive, following several lines of inquiry.
The vigil held in Edward Street drew hundreds of people who paid their respects to Mr. Kelly. Balloons, candles, and flowers adorned the scene, while some of his family members wore T-shirts demanding justice for Odhran. John O’Dowd, Sinn Féin MLA for Upper Bann, addressed the crowd, expressing the community’s shattered heart in the wake of this tragedy.
O’Dowd urged the community not to let the actions of those responsible define Lurgan’s present and future. Instead, he called for unity and love, reflecting the qualities Mr. Kelly possessed. Recalling the caring nature of the young nursing assistant, O’Dowd appealed to the community to continue reaching out to one another and create a destiny that would make Odhran proud.
Fr Colum Wright, the parish priest in Lurgan, expressed the Kelly family’s gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from those in attendance. He acknowledged the sudden and violent loss of Mr. Kelly, emphasizing the pain the family is enduring.
The police have stated that they do not believe the murder is linked to organized crime. Detective Chief Inspector Tony Kelly confirmed the completion of a post-mortem examination and extended his sympathies to the Kelly family. He urged anyone with information to come forward, particularly three individuals captured on CCTV walking near the burning car.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart echoed the police’s appeal for information and expressed the shock felt throughout Lurgan. She stressed the importance of justice for the senseless taking of an innocent young man’s life. Lockhart also called for the submission of any relevant footage circulating on social media to aid the investigation.
The community remains in mourning as they collectively seek answers and resolution in this devastating crime.